Agriculture: Genetically Modified Crops

The Countess of Mar: To ask Her Majesty's Government why, in the light of the effect of insertional mutagenesis which takes place during genetic transformation of between 1 per cent and 4 per cent of the genes of the host genome on its function, the Food Standards Agency, the European Food Standards Agency and other regulators base their safety assessment on substantial equivalence.

Earl Howe: The Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes (ACNFP) considered the issue of insertional mutagenesis in 2007. The committee agreed that genetically modified (GM) plants may contain DNA changes at loci other than the insertion site but pointed out that similar changes occur in plants that have not been subject to techniques of genetic modification.
	The ACNFP also noted that these changes are taken into account in the safety assessment of GM plants, as carried out by the European Food Safety Authority. These assessments are not based solely on substantial equivalence of the GM plant with its non-GM counterpart and they include the assessment of intended and unintended effects, whether resulting from the inserted transgene or from other unintended genetic changes.

Alston Healthcare

Lord Laird: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will ask the National Audit Office to investigate the use of public funds for the Alston Healthcare project.

Earl Howe: Measures are in place to ensure the grants to Alston Healthcare are monitored.

Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants, etc) Act 2004

Lord Roberts of Llandudno: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they plan to repeal Section 9 of the Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants, etc.) Act 2004 which withdraws support from failed asylum seekers.

Baroness Neville-Jones: There are currently no plans to repeal Section 9 of the Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants, etc.) Act 2004.

Aviation: Low Flying

Lord Corbett of Castle Vale: To ask Her Majesty's Government which air forces, other than the Royal Air Force, are allowed to carry out low-flying training in United Kingdom air space; how many nations have done so; and what charges are levied for the use of those facilities.

Lord Astor of Hever: The Ministry of Defence does not charge foreign air forces to use the UK Low Flying System, but permits them to do so on the basis of reciprocal agreements. The nations that have used the UK Low Flying System are Australia, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sweden, Turkey and USA.

Bloody Sunday Inquiry

Lord Morrow: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their assessment of paragraph 3.119 in the Principal Conclusions and Overall Assessment of the Bloody Sunday Inquiry.

Lord Shutt of Greetland: I refer the noble Lord to the Statement made by the Leader of the House, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Lord Strathclyde) on 15 June 2010, Official Report, columns 908-912.

Bloody Sunday Inquiry

Lord Tebbit: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, following the publication of the Bloody Sunday Inquiry, they will hold a public inquiry to establish the identities of those who ordered, organised and financed the terrorist attack on The Grand Hotel, Brighton, in October 1984.

Lord Shutt of Greetland: The Government have no plans to hold a public inquiry in relation to the terrorist attack on The Grand Hotel, Brighton, in October 1984. As the Noble Lord will be aware, there was a police investigation following the attack and one man was subsequently convicted of offences relating to the bombing.

Bolivia

Lord Ashcroft: To ask Her Majesty's Government how much aid was given to Bolivia in the past five years; and why such aid was given.

Baroness Verma: Details of total UK development spending in Bolivia are published annually in Statistics on International Development, which is available in the House Library and on the Department for International Development's (DfID's) website at: http://www.dfid.gov.uk/About-DFID/Finance-and-performance/Aid-Statistics/Statistics-on-International-Development-2009/.
	Figures for 2005-06 to 2008-09 are reproduced in the table below. Figures for 2009-10 will be published later this year.
	
		
			 Financial Year Amount (£) 
			 2005-06 3,103,179 
			 2006-07 3,610,375 
			 2007-08 487.287 
			 2008-09 1,283,367 
		
	
	This aid is concentrated on reducing poverty and inequality in line with the international community's commitment to help achieve the millennium development goals (MDGs) by 2015. Specific focus areas included helping the poorest and most excluded participate in and benefit from economic growth and good governance.
	The Government have commissioned a review of the DfID Bilateral Aid Programme to ensure that we target UK aid where it is needed most and will make the most significant impact on poverty reduction. The review will consider which countries should receive British aid, how much they should receive and which countries should stop receiving British aid. Any savings generated will be redirected to more effective programmes in other poor countries.

British Overseas Territories

Lord Ashcroft: To ask Her Majesty's Government how much was given in aid to each of the British Overseas Territories in each of the last five years; and whether there are plans to increase the priority of the territories in the Department for International Development's budget.

Baroness Verma: Details of aid provided to the British Overseas Territories by the Department for International Development (DfID) are published annually in Statistics onInternational Development, which is available in the Library and on the DFID website at: http://www.dfid.gov.uk/About-DFID/Finance-and-performance/Aid-Statistics/Statistics-on-International-Development-2009/.
	Figures for 2005-6 to 2008-9 are reproduced in the table below. Figures for 2009-10 will be published later this year.
	
		
			 £ 000s 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 
			 St Helena & Dependencies (including Tristan da Cunha) 13,564 15,692 17,550 35,738 
			 Anguilla 895 127   
			 Montserrat 12,617 15,556 17,164 16,276 
			 Turks and Caicos Islands 357 149 178 1,000 
			 Pitcairn 2,582 1,837 1,460 2,115 
			 Gibraltar 2 1   
			 Overseas Territories (Regional Programmes) 1,532 1,771 1,001 804 
			 TOTAL 31,548 35,132 J 37,353 55,933 
		
	
	In the coming months DfID will be reviewing its aid programme to determine how we can achieve better value for money for the taxpayer and fulfil our obligation to the citizens of UK Overseas Territories. Allocation of funding to UK Overseas Territories will be determined as part of the review.

Burma

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their response to the conclusion of the United Nations Human Rights Council's Working Group on Arbitrary Detention that Aung San Suu Kyi is being held in violation of international law.

Lord Howell of Guildford: The Government endorse the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention's recent observation that the ongoing detention of Aung San Suu Kyi is illegal and in violation of international human rights law. On 18 and 19 May 2010, my right honourable friends the Prime Minister, the Foreign Secretary and the Minister of State responsible for South-East Asia called on the military regime to end Aung San Suu Kyi's incarceration. The Government will continue to raise the plight of Burma's political prisoners, including Aung San Suu Kyi, through the EU, with Burma's neighbours, and we will highlight the issue in the UN Security Council and UN's human rights bodies.

Chagos Islands

Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead: To ask Her Majesty's Government , in light of the article in the Times on 22 April, what assessment they have made of the independence of the 2002 Phase 2B Feasibility Study on resettlement of the Chagos Islanders; and whether they intend to commission a new study.

Lord Howell of Guildford: There was an open tender process for the feasibility study and it was conducted by outside experts who won the bid. The report was drafted by the project team, checked by the project manager and approved by the project director, all of whom were independent of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. We, therefore, consider that the report was independent. There are no plans to commission a new study.

Chagos Islands

Baroness Whitaker: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, in view of the article in the Times on 22 April quoting one of the expert consultants involved expressing doubts about the validity of the 2002 Phase 2B Feasibility Study, on which the previous Government's case against the application of the Chagos Islanders to the European Court of Human Rights was partly based, they will withdraw from the case and settle out of court as previously suggested by the Court.

Lord Howell of Guildford: We have no doubts about the validity of the 2002 Phase 2B Feasibility study which was conducted by a number of independent outside experts who won the open tender for the project. The report was drafted by the project team, checked by the project manager and approved by the project director. While the report concluded that short-term resettlement for limited numbers on a subsistence basis is possible, it also emphasised that any long-term resettlement would be precarious and costly. The outer islands, which have been uninhabited for nearly 40 years, are low-lying and lack all basic facilities and infrastructure. The cost of infrastructure and public services could become a heavy ongoing contingent liability for the UK taxpayer.
	The European Court of Human Rights routinely asks parties to give their views on the suitability of cases for friendly settlements. On 15 January 2010, the Registrar of the European Court of Human Rights was advised that the case brought by the Chagos Islanders was not considered suitable for friendly settlement as proposed by the applicants.

Children: Speech and Language

Lord Ramsbotham: To ask Her Majesty's Government what support will be provided in 2010-11 and 2011-12 for parents to help identify communication disabilities; and how much of that support will be made available through funding for the National Year of Speech, Language and Communication.

Lord Hill of Oareford: We will reform the school system so that children with special educational needs and disabilities, including children with speech, language and communication needs, get the best possible support. We will improve diagnostic assessment for schoolchildren, prevent the unnecessary closure of special schools, and remove the bias towards inclusion. Decisions on funding for existing policies and programmes are being reviewed. The Government have announced that there will be a spending review reporting in the autumn to determine public spending for 2011 onwards.

Crime: Drink and Drug Driving

Viscount Simon: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many (a) arrests, (b) prosecutions, and (c) convictions, of (1) men, and (2) women, there were for the offences of driving after consuming alcohol or taking drugs in each police force area in each year since 2000.

Lord McNally: The number of males and females proceeded against at magistrates' courts and found guilty at all courts for driving after consuming alcohol or taking drugs, by sex and police force area, from 2000 to 2008 (latest available) are shown as follows in tables 1 and 2.
	Court proceedings data for 2009 are planned to be published in the autumn, 2010.
	The arrests collection held by the Home Office covers arrests for recorded crime (notifiable offences) only, broken down at a main offence group level, covering categories such as violence against the person and robbery. Information on summary motoring offences including those of driving after consuming alcohol or taking drugs are non-notifiable and as a result are not covered by the collection.
	
		
			 Table 1: The number of males proceeded against at magistrates' courts and found guilty at all courts for driving after consuming alcohol or taking drugs, by police force area, England and Wales, 2000 to 2008(1)(2)(3) 
			 Prosecutions  
			 Police force area 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 (4) 
			 Avon and Somerset 2,113 1,888 2,007 2,261 2,249 2,167 1,981 2,017 1,772 
			 Bedfordshire 681 826 838 929 953 950 972 883 747 
			 Cambridgeshire 664 666 713 797 914 996 1,050 1,043 917 
			 Cheshire 1,405 1,317 1,735 1,528 1,751 1,372 1,456 1,449 1,245 
			 City of London 167 139 208 197 157 165 149 181 115 
			 Cleveland 667 753 766 795 882 761 806 783 808 
			 Cumbria 660 612 633 661 733 659 686 680 565 
			 Derbyshire 1,186 1,192 1,234 1,332 1,554 1,345 1,264 1,191 969 
			 Devon and Cornwall 1,907 2,095 2,129 2,283 2,130 2,080 1,960 1,908 1,794 
			 Dorset 897 934 937 1,013 1,035 986 957 1,010 874 
			 Durham 970 918 932 966 1,007 910 790 796 694 
			 Essex 2,150 2,108 2,150 2,202 2,362 2,131 2,229 2,084 1,918 
			 Gloucestershire 672 746 812 754 759 711 710 601 613 
			 Greater Manchester 3,814 3,864 3,793 3,817 3,846 3,786 3,749 3,650 3,011 
			 Hampshire 2,948 3,005 3,331 3,132 3,215 2,825 2,426 2,462 2,245 
			 Hertfordshire 1,320 1,451 1,640 1,641 1,629 1,554 1,511 1,503 1,307 
			 Humberside 1,110 1,049 1,218 1,330 1,367 1,315 1,247 842 477 
			 Kent 2,272 2,309 2,400 2,410 2,589 2,419 2,332 2,329 2,025 
			 Lancashire 2,171 1,927 2,161 2,269 2,251 2,234 2,274 2,191 1,965 
			 Leicestershire 1,304 1,359 1,422 1,443 1,445 1,382 1,275 1,290 1,099 
			 Lincolnshire 735 791 746 972 998 991 1,051 1,051 997 
			 Merseyside 1,891 1,918 1,951 2,268 2,394 2,434 2,219 1,998 1,529 
			 Metropolitan Police 10,936 10,651 11,970 11,549 11,758 11,650 11,579 10,738 9,717 
			 Norfolk 776 976 1,017 1,106 1,026 1,040 1,137 1,008 861 
			 North Yorkshire 908 896 938 1,002 938 1,033 998 946 886 
			 Northamptonshire 708 356 195 698 794 737 868 748 790 
			 Northumbria 2,196 2,097 2,107 2,245 2,192 2,127 2,064 1,984 1,835 
			 Nottinghamshire 1,452 1,332 1,220 1,379 1,358 1,369 1,403 1,256 1,255 
			 South Yorkshire 1,815 1,748 1,625 1,748 1,864 1,906 1,667 1,690 1,609 
			 Staffordshire 1,554 1,222 1,374 1,399 1,419 1,411 1,354 1,369 1,251 
			 Suffolk 762 823 940 1,010 1,125 914 979 866 711 
			 Surrey 1,328 1,528 1,422 1,236 1,270 1,231 1,170 1,204 1,074 
			 Sussex 1,845 2,128 2,050 2,125 2,064 1,933 2,023 1,985 1,794 
			 Thames Valley 3,056 2,904 3,786 3,419 3,094 2,987 2,941 2,852 2,406 
			 Warwickshire 682 758 724 782 742 734 725 808 650 
			 West Mercia 1,395 1,477 1,463 1,527 1,532 1,672 1,682 1,591 1,424 
			 West Midlands 3,953 4,225 4,383 4,481 4,759 4,830 4,739 4,651 3,877 
			 West Yorkshire 2,879 2,858 3,161 3,191 3,328 3,366 3,134 2,936 2,609 
			 Wiltshire 775 848 828 816 845 840 809 639 546 
			 Dyfed-Powys 731 724 792 811 807 777 762 748 646 
			 Gwent 1,016 946 898 973 980 901 986 894 787 
			 North Wales 1,088 1,049 1,066 1,117 1,108 1,097 1,112 1,049 890 
			 South Wales(3) 2,171 2,283 2,159 2,269 2,323 2,303 2,227 2,062 1,494 
			 Total E&W 73,730 73,696 77,874 79,883 81,546 79,031 77,453 73,966 64,798 
		
	
	
		
			 Table 1 : The number of males proceeded against at magistrates' courts and found guilty at all courts for driving after consuming alcohol or taking drugs, by police force area, England and Wales, 2000 to 2008(1)(2)(3) 
			 Convictions  
			 Police force area 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 (4) 
			 Avon and Somerset 1,981 1,780 1,894 2,089 2,126 2,042 1,857 1,903 1,678 
			 Bedfordshire 640 771 780 863 891 882 929 841 708 
			 Cambridgeshire 627 645 680 758 880 972 1,022 1,012 883 
			 Cheshire 1,304 1,239 1,551 1,443 1,664 1,313 1,390 1,393 1,209 
			 City of London 145 129 182 187 133 154 143 165 105 
			 Cleveland 612 707 721 702 813 725 776 754 790 
			 Cumbria 625 584 602 634 709 627 656 663 545 
			 Derbyshire 1,105 1,105 1,161 1,264 1,472 1,290 1,210 1,151 940 
			 Devon and Cornwall 1,801 1,987 2,020 2,145 2,036 1,987 1,851 1,830 1,720 
			 Dorset 843 881 877 960 975 943 915 925 819 
			 Durham 924 874 879 901 972 880 760 775 673 
			 Essex 2,048 1,986 2,031 2,105 2,266 2,027 2,130 2,003 1,844 
			 Gloucestershire 626 715 766 711 716 651 655 564 596 
			 Greater Manchester 3,648 3,638 3,622 3,616 3,686 3,600 3,595 3,511 2,923 
			 Hampshire 2,788 2,840 3,134 2,934 3,007 2,659 2,299 2,373 2,145 
			 Hertfordshire 1,238 1,356 1,538 1,516 1,498 1,448 1,431 1,427 1,247 
			 Humberside 1,055 998 1,132 1,242 1,289 1,265 1,208 801 436 
			 Kent 2,169 2,147 2,245 2,250 2,455 2,314 2,238 2,236 1,938 
			 Lancashire 2,034 1,790 1,995 2,090 2,097 2,107 2,108 2,057 1,876 
			 Leicestershire 1,245 1,257 1,346 1,386 1,386 1,300 1,210 1,218 1,038 
			 Lincolnshire 690 726 706 907 961 930 1,008 1,008 951 
			 Merseyside 1,712 1,776 1,833 2,107 2,174 2,266 2,097 1,896 1,478 
			 Metropolitan Police 9,808 9,427 10,752 10,333 10,674 10,601 10,766 10,052 9,218 
			 Norfolk 746 911 966 1,036 965 996 1,094 962 827 
			 North Yorkshire 862 859 901 938 887 977 963 914 863 
			 Northamptonshire 639 315 181 644 749 655 823 711 755 
			 Northumbria 2,038 1,935 1,946 2,060 2,030 1,986 1,942 1,861 1,756 
			 Nottinghamshire 1,349 1,245 1,128 1,285 1,292 1,284 1,322 1,201 1,203 
			 South Yorkshire 1,700 1,643 1,528 1,613 1,757 1,795 1,582 1,625 1,526 
			 Staffordshire 1,504 1,158 1,293 1,325 1,323 1,306 1,255 1,310 1,208 
			 Suffolk 718 764 889 938 1,041 875 934 825 687 
			 Surrey 1,223 1,271 1,292 1,156 1,190 1,161 1,110 1,142 1,029 
			 Sussex 1,708 1,950 1,918 1,990 1,967 1,861 1,943 1,928 1,734 
			 Thames Valley 2,844 2,680 3,543 3,192 2,897 2,809 2,745 2,679 2,317 
			 Warwickshire 644 722 686 755 713 705 695 781 625 
			 West Mercia 1,338 1,407 1,387 1,432 1,436 1,601 1,616 1,529 1,379 
			 West Midlands 3,652 3,928 4,071 4,192 4,467 4,580 4,487 4,458 3,715 
			 West Yorkshire 2,672 2,583 2,883 2,976 3,146 3,161 2,950 2,742 2,448 
			 Wiltshire 748 809 778 781 794 798 775 616 519 
			 Dyfed-Powys 675 677 725 757 750 724 716 700 617 
			 Gwent 951 891 851 883 917 829 919 846 738 
			 North Wales 1,037 965 986 1,034 1,044 1,049 1,067 1,024 858 
			 South Wales(3) 2,046 2,114 2,045 2,112 2,183 2,147 2,105 1,979 1,448 
			 Total E&W 68,762 68,185 72,444 74,242 76,428 74,282 73,297 70,391 62,012 
		
	
	(1) The statistics relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences the principal offence is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe.
	(2) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.
	(3) Excludes data for Cardiff magistrates' court for April, July and August 2008.
	(4) Following the introduction of the LIBRA case management system defendants at magistrates' courts can be recorded as "sex not stated" and have therefore been excluded from these data
	Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services - Ministry of Justice.
	
		
			 Table 2 : The number of females proceeded against at magistrates' courts and found guilty at all courts for driving after consuming alcohol or taking drugs, by police force area, England and Wales, 2000 to 2008(1)(2)(3) 
			 Prosecutions  
			 Police force area 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 (4) 
			 Avon and Somerset 267 235 276 309 350 356 330 360 301 
			 Bedfordshire 76 83 102 121 100 92 133 125 96 
			 Cambridgeshire 74 69 87 103 117 118 134 142 139 
			 Cheshire 195 170 272 270 278 233 285 282 287 
			 City of London 14 18 28 20 15 12 16 13 13 
			 Cleveland 73 74 93 105 106 116 134 116 135 
			 Cumbria 88 83 89 106 92 130 116 111 137 
			 Derbyshire 143 121 148 173 197 188 204 169 184 
			 Devon and Cornwall 268 252 269 357 325 326 363 326 340 
			 Dorset 141 133 165 148 156 158 164 201 174 
			 Durham 104 112 135 118 134 163 144 162 141 
			 Essex 222 254 274 276 349 340 352 363 385 
			 Gloucestershire 89 99 98 120 131 120 124 128 141 
			 Greater Manchester 421 448 462 512 506 541 501 552 568 
			 Hampshire 387 363 442 413 443 462 393 411 396 
			 Hertfordshire 181 191 233 249 244 256 277 284 264 
			 Humberside 146 129 127 120 139 139 166 120 62 
			 Kent 232 261 310 268 305 317 312 349 362 
			 Lancashire 297 284 340 321 351 344 414 411 398 
			 Leicestershire 125 126 152 162 167 169 158 176 137 
			 Lincolnshire 69 86 75 115 154 150 133 137 138 
			 Merseyside 190 189 240 296 328 327 343 387 349 
			 Metropolitan Police 1,091 1,057 1,210 1,179 1,328 1,253 1,343 1,340 1,338 
			 Norfolk 93 116 153 122 149 153 149 165 164 
			 North Yorkshire 126 130 128 155 141 171 163 182 166 
			 Northamptonshire 76 32 24 85 99 120 104 101 130 
			 Northumbria 242 228 290 323 344 300 337 373 355 
			 Nottinghamshire 166 159 113 164 183 180 217 214 211 
			 South Yorkshire 176 171 193 232 216 208 215 229 238 
			 Staffordshire 149 146 201 196 222 220 208 221 253 
			 Suffolk 97 101 117 152 154 128 138 146 146 
			 Surrey 190 243 215 193 194 227 211 256 247 
			 Sussex 226 267 255 275 341 311 337 372 303 
			 Thames Valley 405 352 473 450 414 425 438 447 432 
			 Warwickshire 72 101 89 95 81 103 138 137 134 
			 West Mercia 144 172 206 192 191 146 215 188 182 
			 West Midlands 397 374 389 419 517 524 564 557 490 
			 West Yorkshire 307 280 313 329 330 354 333 411 401 
			 Wiltshire 108 110 116 133 117 125 129 129 116 
			 Dyfed-Powys 82 99 113 123 133 121 117 124 122 
			 Gwent 113 135 104 131 149 180 161 153 177 
			 North Wales 139 127 150 157 153 166 168 176 171 
			 South Wales(3) 266 285 310 332 333 359 349 372 307 
			 Total E&W 8,467 8,465 9,579 10,119 10,776 10,831 11,230 11,618 11,230 
		
	
	
		
			 Table 2 : The number of females proceeded against at magistrates' courts and found guilty at all courts for driving after consuming alcohol or taking drugs, by police force area, England and Wales, 2000 to 2008(1)(2)(3) 
			 Convictions  
			  2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008(4) 
			 Avon and Somerset 249 220 259 285 331 337 313 339 287 
			 Bedfordshire 73 74 100 114 95 87 131 122 96 
			 Cambridgeshire 72 68 82 96 114 116 128 138 138 
			 Cheshire 184 157 248 257 269 229 265 269 277 
			 City of London 11 18 27 20 15 11 15 12 13 
			 Cleveland 67 70 87 98 102 113 131 111 128 
			 Cumbria 85 81 84 103 90 122 112 109 136 
			 Derbyshire 135 111 139 157 188 178 186 165 176 
			 Devon and Cornwall 251 238 251 344 305 312 348 310 323 
			 Dorset 131 120 155 143 144 150 154 184 159 
			 Durham 101 108 125 114 133 154 140 158 134 
			 Essex 214 245 259 261 332 327 342 350 371 
			 Gloucestershire 85 94 93 112 126 111 114 122 136 
			 Greater Manchester 406 429 441 495 492 530 479 540 550 
			 Hampshire 370 345 408 394 424 440 375 392 381 
			 Hertfordshire 171 182 224 233 238 237 261 276 250 
			 Humberside 145 122 119 115 135 132 159 114 60 
			 Kent 220 243 295 258 291 297 304 333 343 
			 Lancashire 278 269 321 303 330 325 395 382 385 
			 Leicestershire 118 123 143 151 160 158 142 166 134 
			 Lincolnshire 67 82 73 110 143 142 124 128 135 
			 Merseyside 179 174 226 279 311 306 317 373 335 
			 Metropolitan Police 995 947 1,105 1,073 1,218 1,159 1,257 1,265 1,277 
			 Norfolk 92 107 143 114 140 145 147 157 159 
			 North Yorkshire 124 123 125 147 138 166 158 180 162 
			 Northamptonshire 64 28 24 82 95 109 96 96 123 
			 Northumbria 234 219 274 302 316 280 320 352 343 
			 Nottinghamshire 159 149 104 152 175 170 209 199 202 
			 South Yorkshire 166 164 182 216 198 190 203 226 236 
			 Staffordshire 137 145 194 187 210 205 195 210 244 
			 Suffolk 90 92 108 143 145 122 130 138 140 
			 Surrey 180 198 200 183 178 219 202 252 242 
			 Sussex 217 255 240 261 328 296 330 351 295 
			 Thames Valley 375 333 451 422 385 402 416 423 411 
			 Warwickshire 70 98 84 92 76 102 134 132 132 
			 West Mercia 139 160 197 181 180 138 205 179 175 
			 West Midlands 374 356 364 402 481 500 543 536 465 
			 West Yorkshire 286 265 287 308 312 334 316 389 375 
			 Wiltshire 104 104 113 127 109 121 124 125 106 
			 Dyfed-Powys 73 93 103 115 123 113 113 114 111 
			 Gwent 107 125 96 125 140 170 151 144 166 
			 North Wales 132 121 138 148 145 158 159 170 163 
			 South Wales(3) 254 269 298 317 309 345 335 355 293 
			 Total E&W 7,984 7,924 8,989 9,539 10,169 10,258 10,678 11,086 10,767

Energy: Electricity

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what consideration they are giving to reducing the number of electricity pylons and miles of overhead lines; and whether they are assessing (a) the likely impact on the countryside of the National Grid's proposals to increase them, (b) the potential impact on national parks and beauty spots, and (c) alternative ways of transmitting electricity.

Lord Marland: For new lines, it is for the regulatory price control and planning processes to determine the appropriate balance between need, cost and environmental impact of electricity transmission towers (pylons) and overhead lines in each location.
	These issues are currently assessed as part of the planning process in the environmental statement (ES) for each proposal, which describes aspects of the environment likely to be significantly affected by the project. The ES includes assessments of significant effects, including landscape, visual, land use and cumulative impacts. ESs also include assessments of alternative routes, which, where relevant could include undergrounding specific parts of the route. These principles are all included in the draft national policy statements, which the Infrastructure Planning Commission will use when examining applications.

Energy: Nuclear Power

Lord Hunt of Chesterton: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will work with the European Union and the International Atomic Energy Agency to include nuclear power as a source of carbon-free energy in the policies to be adopted at the United Nations Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC in Cancun in December.

Lord Marland: The Government are committed to working towards an ambitious global climate deal that will limit emissions, and we will be working with our international partners, both in the European Union and bilaterally, to secure practical progress in tackling climate change by the time of the next Conference of Parties in Cancun in November this year. We need to use a wide range of levers to cut carbon emissions and support the creation of new green jobs and technologies. Emissions savings achieved by countries through the use of nuclear power are recognised as emissions reduction policy actions in National Communications submitted to the UNFCCC secretariat.
	The flexible mechanisms established under the Kyoto Protocol (the Clean Development Mechanism and Joint Implementation) exclude emissions savings achieved through the use of nuclear power. There is currently no international consensus on whether nuclear power could be brought into these mechanisms, which means that it is unlikely that any change will be made to the rules at Cancun.

Energy: Renewables

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: To ask Her Majesty's Government when they will publish details of their proposals on the Renewable Heat Incentive.

Lord Marland: The Government are committed to increasing the amount of renewable heat in the UK; this is a crucial part of ensuring we meet our renewables targets, cutting carbon and ensuring energy security.
	We are currently considering the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) proposals. Clearly there are benefits to the scheme, but we must also balance the impact of the long-term costs, particularly given the financial constraints we must work within and the potential impact that funding options could have on vulnerable people. We are aware that there is uncertainty in the renewable heating industry and want to provide certainty and clarity as quickly as possible, but must make sure that we make the right decision. We will look to make an announcement on the future of the proposed scheme as soon as possible.

Finance: UK Contributions

Lord Pearson of Rannoch: To ask Her Majesty's Government what was the United Kingdom's gross financial contribution in sterling in 2009 to (a) the European Union, (b) the Commonwealth, (c) the World Trade Organisation, (d) the United Nations, (e) the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, (f) the International Monetary Fund, and (g) the World Bank.

Lord Sassoon: The United Kingdom's interests are represented through its membership in various international institutions and fora. Information regarding the UK's financial relationship with a particular institution is a matter for the relevant government department.
	The Government's latest estimate of the UK's gross contribution to the European Union, after taking account of the UK abatement, was published in Table 3, page 62, of the 2009 European Community Finances White Paper (Cm 7640). This was published on 20 July 2009 and is available in the Library of the House. The figure for 2008 is £7,791 million and the estimate for 2009 is £7,770 million.
	Information on UK financial contributions to the IMF is available on a net basis for 2008-09 in the Government's latest report to Parliament on the UK and the IMF, published in June 2009. Quota subscriptions determine the amount a member country can be asked to lend to the IMF. The UK's net contribution under its quota subscription was £1,134 million in 2008-09. The UK also provided £624,000 in grants in 2008-09 to support the IMF's work in low-income countries.
	Information for the Commonwealth, the United Nations and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development are matters for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. The relevant information is available in the FCO's annual report. The most recent annual report shows that for 2009-10 the FCO's budgeted provision for the Commonwealth Secretariat was £4.6 million, for the UN regular budget was £75.6 million and for the OECD was £12.5 million.
	Information on the World Trade Organisation is a matter for the Department for Business Innovation and Skills. The WTO subscription for the calendar year 2009 was £6,061,004 (Swiss Francs 9,652,149) paid on 26 January 2009.
	Information on the World Bank is a matter for the Department for International Development. Data on UK financial contributions to the World Bank are available for 2008-09 in Statistics on International Development 2009 on the DfID website. In 2008-09 the UK contributed £524.8 million to the International Development Association and £49.8million for multilateral debt relief contributions to the World Bank. In addition, the UK contributed £595 million to trust funds which are administered by the World Bank.

Health: Drugs

The Earl of Sandwich: To ask Her Majesty's Government why information sheets accompanying prescribed benzodiazepines do not carry warnings of potential withdrawal syndromes associated with its use.

Earl Howe: There are a number of benzodiazepine medicines authorised and marketed in the United Kingdom. Information supporting the safe use of medicines is provided to doctors and pharmacists in the Summary of Product Characteristics and for patients in the patient information leaflet. Patient information leaflets of prescribed medicines are intended to supplement the advice given to patients by health professionals.
	The patient information leaflets for benzodiazepines available in the UK contain clear advice about the recommended duration of treatment, which should not be for more than two to four weeks, and that treatment should be stopped gradually as benzodiazepines may cause side effects on abrupt withdrawal. The term "withdrawal syndrome" does not appear in patient information leaflets but there are references to "withdrawal reactions or symptoms".

Health: Drugs

The Earl of Sandwich: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assistance they have given to the Council for Information on Tranquillisers, Antidepressants, and Painkillers, and to other organisations helping those suffering from addiction to and withdrawal from prescribed drugs.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government how they are consulting general practitioners and the medical profession as part of their review of the causes and effects of benzodiazepine addiction and withdrawal.

Earl Howe: In looking at the problem of addiction to prescription and over-the-counter medicines, the department has commissioned three reviews: a literature review on published evidence; an audit of primary care trust prescribing records to assess the scale of over-prescribing; and an audit of addiction clinicians to map the assistance that is available to help people withdraw from prescription and over-the-counter medicines. We expect this information to be available by the end of the year. We will then share this evidence with interested organisations and individuals, including doctors, to inform discussions about future policies and services.

Health: Tuberculosis

Baroness Sharples: To ask Her Majesty's Government what strategy they have to improve early diagnosis to help reverse the increase in tuberculosis rates over the past 20 years.

Earl Howe: Increasing awareness of tuberculosis (TB) among groups at risk of infection and healthcare professionals and providing accessible services are key factors in improving early diagnosis and treatment.
	The department is funding TB Alert (a United Kingdom charity) to increase awareness of TB among groups most vulnerable to TB and among primary care health professionals. This is supported by the Health Protection Agency.
	In addition, the department is supporting National Health Service TB services in London by piloting a Find and Treat service to identify cases of TB among people who are homeless or have other complex social needs, and ensure they have prompt support and complete treatment, to help prevent drug-resistant TB.

Health: Tuberculosis

Lord Harris of Haringey: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to ensure that the London Tuberculosis Commissioning Board becomes operational.

Earl Howe: The London Tuberculosis (TB) Commissioning Board has been operational since October 2008.
	It is currently overseeing a London wide needs assessment of TB to support the implementation of the London TB Strategy.
	It is envisaged that the London TB Commissioning Board will be supported on a day-to-day basis by a London TB Commissioning Unit. The unit will be funded jointly by all primary care trusts in London, and is expected to be operational in September 2010.

HMS "Atherstone"

Lord Moonie: To ask Her Majesty's Government what operational lessons have been learned from the two-year deployment away from United Kingdom waters of HMS "Atherstone".

Lord Astor of Hever: The key lessons learned from HMS "Atherstone's" deployment (and from other deployments of the same type) focus primarily on methods to improve the Royal Navy's capability to conduct operations in challenging climates and on ways to most effectively maintain naval deployments around the world. I am withholding the detail of the lessons learned as this would, or would be likely to, compromise the efficiency, security and capability of the Armed Forces.

HMS "Atherstone"

Lord Moonie: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether the recent deployment of HMS "Atherstone" will accelerate her refit cycle.

Lord Astor of Hever: HMS "Atherstone" refit cycle remains unaffected by her deployment.

House of Lords: Reform

Lord Norton of Louth: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the formal status of the committee appointed to consider a draft bill on reform of the House of Lords.

Lord McNally: The committee is a working group composed of Members from the three main political parties and both Houses.
	The purpose of the committee is to produce a draft Bill, which will then be subject to pre-legislative scrutiny. The Government hope that this will be by a Joint Committee of both Houses.

Immigration: Deportation

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will investigate current attempts to deport Palestinians from east Jerusalem to the West Bank; and, if so, whether they will make representations to the Government of Israel following the investigation.

Lord Howell of Guildford: The UK is extremely concerned by recent reports of Palestinians' residency permits being revoked. We can confirm that President Abbas has requested the Israeli Government to rescind their decision.
	We will continue to raise with the Israeli Government our concerns about Israeli policies in Jerusalem, which threaten to cut off East Jerusalem from the West Bank. Those policies include the routing of the barrier on occupied territory, settlement activity both within and around East Jerusalem, and increasingly restricted access to Jerusalem for Palestinian residents.
	We believe the only long-term solution is a secure and universally recognised Israel living alongside a sovereign and viable Palestinian state, with Jerusalem the future capital of both states, and a fair settlement for refugees.

Independent Safeguarding Authority

Lord Stoddart of Swindon: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the annual cost of the Independent Safeguarding Authority; and what are their plans for it.

Baroness Neville-Jones: For the financial year 2010-11, the Independent Safeguarding Authority's (ISA's) total resource budget is £16.8 million. The ISA is funded through Grant in Aid payments from the Home Office.
	In the coalition agreement, the Government made a commitment to review the vetting and barring scheme. On 15 June the Government confirmed that registration with the vetting and barring scheme would not commence on 26 July 2010 and that the scheme would be remodelled. Until this remodelling has taken place, we have decided to maintain those aspects of the new scheme which are already in place, but not to introduce further elements.
	The terms of reference for the remodelling of the vetting and barring scheme and criminal records regime are currently being considered and a further announcement will be made in due course.

Iraq

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will make representations to the Governments of Turkey and Iran about respecting the frontiers of Iraq and compensating villagers who have suffered damage to houses and crops as a result of recent military attacks.

Lord Howell of Guildford: It is for the Iraqi Government to decide whether to make representations to the Governments of Turkey and Iran over recent military actions against the PKK (Kurdistan Workers' Party) and PJAK (Free Life Party of Kurdistan) within Iraq's borders.

Iraq: British Consulate

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will maintain their consulate in Basra and appoint a consul in Arbil or Kirkuk.

Lord Howell of Guildford: Foreign and Commonwealth Office Ministers continuously review the deployment of Foreign and Commonwealth Office resources and align them with UK interests. However, we have no current plans to end our presence in Basra. We have had a consul in Erbil since January 2007.

Kyrgyzstan

Viscount Waverley: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have received a request from the government of Kyrgyzstan to investigate the location of money transferred out of Kyrgyzstan by banks controlled by Maxim Bakiyev, the son of the deposed President of Kyrgyzstan, who was recently detained in the United Kingdom by the UK Border Agency; and, if so, how long they envisage that investigation would take.

Lord Howell of Guildford: It is not government policy either to confirm or deny the existence of a request for mutual legal assistance in any particular case.

Overseas Aid

Lord Stoddart of Swindon: To ask Her Majesty's Government what proportion of the United Kingdom's overseas aid budget is allocated and administered by the European Union; what is the annual total in sterling; and, whether that money is counted as part of the United Kingdom's annual contribution to the European Union budget.

Baroness Verma: In 2008-09, £1,408 million, which represents 20 per cent of the UK's overseas aid budget, was allocated to the European Union and managed by the European Commission. Of this total, £1,048 million counted as part of the UK's total annual contribution to the European Union budget. The remainder was the UK's contribution to the European Development Fund for Africa, Caribbean and Pacific countries.
	The Secretary of State for International Development recently set out details of DfID's review of all funding of international agencies including the EC. This review will test each organisation to ensure the UK is getting maximum value from its aid money. This will include an assessment of the relevance of each block to the UK's objectives on poverty reduction and their ability to deliver results on the ground.

Overseas Aid

Lord Stoddart of Swindon: To ask Her Majesty's Government how often they review the policies governing that part of the United Kingdom's overseas aid budget allocated and administered by the European Union; how they ensure that those funds are directed to programmes likely to be approved by United Kingdom taxpayers; and how they ensure that those funds are under sound financial management.

Baroness Verma: All UK aid allocations made through the EU are managed by the European Commission (EC). The Secretary of State for International Development recently set out details of DfID'sreview of all funding of international agencies including the EC. This review will test each organisation to ensure the UK is getting maximum value from its aid money. This will include an assessment of the relevance of each body to the UK's objectives on poverty reduction and their ability to deliver results on the ground.

People Trafficking

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will examine practices used in other European states for identifying, protecting and supporting trafficked persons and prosecuting traffickers.

Baroness Neville-Jones: The United Kingdom has developed close working relationships with other European Union member states and shares best practice with them. In setting up the National Referral Mechanism-the system used to identify victims of trafficking and refer them to support-the UK examined best practice available from the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe, the Council of Europe and other European states.

People Trafficking

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government how they will ensure that trafficked persons are not prosecuted for offences committed while they were subject to coercion.

Baroness Neville-Jones: Victims of trafficking who have been compelled to commit crimes as a direct result of their trafficking situation will not normally be prosecuted. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), Association of Chief Police Officers ACPO) and United Kingdom Border Agency (UKBA) have issued guidance to prosecutors, police officers and immigration officers to this effect.
	The guidance invites prosecutors to consider whether or not a charge would meet the test for crown prosecutors at the evidential stage. However, it is not legally justifiable to introduce a blanket ban on prosecutions as the Code for Crown Prosecutors must be applied in all cases.

Piracy

Lord Tebbit: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the rules of engagement for Royal Navy ships engaged in anti-piracy operations have changed since 11 May.

Lord Astor of Hever: The UK's approach to tackling piracy off the coast of Somalia remains unchanged. We recognise that the solution to piracy lies on land and are determined to play our part in the deterrence and disruption of pirate activity at sea while reassuring the shipping industry and encouraging capacity building in the region.
	Royal Navy ships participating in counter-piracy operations are always trained and equipped with the required rules of engagement to counter any threats they may face. These have not changed since 11 May but are reviewed on a regular basis.

Piracy

Lord Tebbit: To ask Her Majesty's Government what action has been taken this year against piracy off the east coast of Africa.

Lord Astor of Hever: In 2010, Royal Navy assets assigned to counter piracy operations have continued to deter and disrupt pirate activity while offering reassurance to shipping in the region and coming to the aid of vessels in distress. In April, six suspected pirates were transferred to Kenya for prosecution following an attack on a merchant vessel.
	Close co-ordination between NATO, EU, and Combined Maritime Force counter-piracy operations and the shipping industry has meant the critical Gulf of Aden trade artery has seen only three successful attacks on merchant vessels following best management practice guidelines since 2008. Discussions across all international navies are now focused on achieving similar success in the Somali basin.
	The solution to piracy lies on land, and the UK continues to play a leading role, through the contact group on piracy off the coast of Somalia, in taking forward discussions with international and regional partners, including the Somali authorities, on regional capacity building. This includes supporting UN projects within the judicial, penal and security sectors. The UK regularly engages with key regional partners to build relationships and encourage increased action against pirates, sharing the burden of prosecuting and imprisoning pirate suspects.

Piracy

Lord Tebbit: To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress has been made in the trial of alleged pirates handed over to the Kenyan authorities.

Lord Astor of Hever: In March 2010, eight suspected pirates transferred to Kenya in 2008 were found guilty of piracy and sentenced to 20 years' imprisonment. In April 2010, six further suspected pirates were transferred to Kenyan authorities and are currently on remand in Kenya, awaiting trial.
	The UK is grateful for the judicial assistance offered by the Kenyan Government in support of the international community's efforts to rid the Indian Ocean of pirates emanating from Somalia. The Ministry of Defence continues to work with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to ensure Kenya receives adequate legal support to aid prompt prosecutions and wider judicial capacity building.

Railways: Public Subsidy

Lord Glenarthur: To ask Her Majesty's Government what was the public subsidy paid to each of the train operating companies in each of the last ten years.

Earl Attlee: Details of historic expenditure on the railways is set out in National Rail Trends, which is published by the Office of Rail Regulation. Copies are available in the Libraries of the House and online at www.rail-reg.gov.uk.

Railways: Scotland

Lord Glenarthur: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the High Level Output Specifications and the Statements of Public Funds Available for Anglo-Scottish sleeper services are given to the Office of Rail Regulation by the Secretary of State for Transport or by Scottish Ministers.

Earl Attlee: The provision of Scotrail's Anglo-Scottish sleeper services is a matter for Scottish Ministers, as is the provision of public funds for rail infrastructure outputs in Scotland. The provision of public funds for infrastructure outputs in England and Wales is a matter for the Secretary of State for Transport.

Railways: Signalling

Lord Roberts of Llandudno: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the experience of implementing the railway signalling scheme in use on the Cambrian line will affect their plans for extending those arrangements more widely on the railway network.

Earl Attlee: The Cambrian Line scheme is a trial and the lessons learnt from this project will be carefully considered by Network Rail and the relevant industry stakeholders before any decision is made to extend this type of signalling more widely on the railway.

Schools: Academies

Baroness Morris of Yardley: To ask Her Majesty's Government who will be responsible for brokering partnerships between schools converting to academies and the underperforming schools they will support.

Lord Hill of Oareford: Schools judged by Ofsted to be "outstanding" which choose to convert to academy status will all be expected to form a partnership with another school. We are confident that many schools will be able to broker such partnerships directly between themselves, as indeed many have already done. We trust school leaders to know what is best for their schools and their pupils and expect all outstanding schools to play an active role in supporting the wider system. Where third party brokerage is required, we are currently considering a range of options.

Schools: Academies

Baroness Morris of Yardley: To ask Her Majesty's Government how much the Department for Education will spend on grants to schools to support the cost of converting to academies.

Lord Hill of Oareford: We recognise that schools converting to academies may incur costs, such as obtaining legal advice on the documents necessary for setting up an academy, advice on the process for transferring staff and other costs. As a contribution to these costs, a grant of up to £25,000 will be made.

Schools: Citizenship

Lord Norton of Louth: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to enhance the teaching of citizenship in schools.

Lord Hill of Oareford: We intend to review the national curriculum, and this will include the teaching of citizenship in schools. We will announce the detail of the process for the review in due course.

Somalia

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they are making representations to the Government of Somalia about their alleged use of child soldiers; and, if so, whether they have had any responses.

Lord Howell of Guildford: The UK remains concerned about reports of recruitment and use of child soldiers by the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia (TFG). Officials in Nairobi have previously raised this issue with the TFG as part of wider discussions, and are seeking to do so again as a matter of urgency.
	On 16 June President Sharif publicly expressed his concern and reiterated that the TFG are fully committed to upholding existing laws and provisions against the recruitment of child soldiers. We are encouraged that President Sharif has ordered a full investigation and given clear instructions immediately to demobilise any children found to be in the military. The UK will follow up with the TFG on progress and implementation of that investigation, which should also make recommendations on how verification procedures can be strengthened to prevent recruitment of children.

Violence against Women and Children

Baroness Gould of Potternewton: To ask Her Majesty's Government how they intend to pursue the cross-Government strategy Together We Can End Violence Against Women and Girls: a Strategy.

Baroness Neville-Jones: My honourable friend the Minister for Crime Prevention will discuss with colleagues across government how to take forward the approach in this area.
	As a first step, the coalition programme for government will consider how to use proceeds from the victim surcharge to deliver up to 15 new rape crisis centres, and give existing rape crisis centres stable, long-term funding.

Visas

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government on what basis a visa to visit the United Kingdom was given to Mohamed Atta Al-Moula Abbas, Director of National Intelligence and Security in Sudan.

Lord Howell of Guildford: We never comment on individual visa applications. The UK has a policy of engagement with the Government of Sudan on issues such as the North-South comprehensive peace agreement, the situation in Darfur, regional issues and counter-terrorism. This visit took place in the context of this engagement.